Road Traffic Accidents: Collisions

Road Traffic Accidents: Collisions

Been involved in a collision on the road is a worrying time for any driver. They may be in shock due to the impact of the accident, or just generally shaken up from it. Whatever the reason, they may not be thinking too clearly after the incident. Road traffic accidents have become a common occurrence on the roads of today. We constantly hear about them in the news, and we have all probably witnessed a few on the roads before.

If you do become involved in a collision involving another vehicle there are a few things you should do:

• If there is debris in the road you should alert the police – they will then shut the road off if necessary or assist you in moving any vehicle parts. They may help you when organising the damaged vehicle to be removed if it is not drivable.
• Take down the contact details of the other parties involved. This means swapping names, address and telephone numbers. It is also important that you take down the make, model, and registration of other vehicles involved.
• If there were any witnesses to the accident, it is a good idea to take down their contact details as well. If the accident wasn’t your fault and you have suffered any injuries, they may be able to make a statement that will act as evidence if you choose to make an injury compensation claim.
• Seek medical attention; if you feel any pain in the following weeks after the accident you should see your GP or visit a hospital / walk in centre. Collisions with motor vehicles are the cause of a lot of whiplash injuries.

After been involved in a collision there will be a few things you need to sort out. It may be that you no longer have a motor vehicle if yours was damaged in the collision. If this is the case, either an injury lawyer or your insurance company will be able to arrange for a temporary vehicle until the vehicle repairs are sorted.

Although car accidents unfortunately can’t be prevented altogether, there are a few things you can do as a driver to make sure your chances of being involved in one are kept to a minimum:

• Regularly have your car serviced and make sure things such as the tyres and breaks are in working order
• Don’t drive when you are tired or have been drinking (at all!)
• Always make drivers alert of what you intend to do by indicating in due time and giving your vehicle plenty of time to slow down rather than suddenly breaking.